Florida’s Polk County Schools honored for arts programs

The 2009 Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and NSBA Award was presented at Monday’s General Session to the Polk County, Fla., school board, in recognition of the district’s commitment to arts education, even during times of economic pressure.

The award was presented at the Monday General Session by Darrell M. Ayers, vice president for education at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, to Polk County school board Chair Frank O’Reilly and Director of Fine Arts Frank Howes. The award includes $10,000 to support district arts programs.

Finalists for the annual art award included the Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Costa Mesa, Calif.; Joint School District #2 in Meridian, Idaho; and the school districts of Oldham County, Ky.; Cumberland County, N.C.; and Bay Shore, N.Y.

The Polk County school board has consistently proved its support of the arts by committing 4.3 percent of its instructional budget for arts programs, supporting several administrative positions to oversee arts programs, and working with local arts organizations, such as the Polk Museum of Art and Lakeland Theater.

Despite a challenging financial situation, the Polk County school board has not cut arts funding, although it has delayed plans to expand some programs, O’Reilly said. To board members from other districts who might be weighing budget cuts, he said, “if all possible, do not cut the arts.”

“Young men and women involved in the arts are so motivated and enthusiastic about the work they do, it flows over into the rest of the curriculum,” he said.

All elementary and middle schools have music and visual arts specialists, and the school board calls for every elementary student to receive at least 45 minutes a week in both music and visual arts instruction.

The district has created a yearlong campaign, “Arts for Life,” which brings professional artists to schools, encourages teachers to be involved with personal art projects, and brings fifth-graders to take part in fine arts programs in high schools.

“The arts open children’s minds and encourage the exploration of creativity, self-expression, and self-confidence,” said Superintendent Gail McKinzie. “When children are engaged in learning, their academic performance soars along with their imagination.”